Westerink Hendrik ; Brother: Andries

Westerink, Hendrik & Andries Hendrik Westerink was hunting illegally in the woods near Valthe, Drenthe, one day towards the end of 1942 when he and his dog, Prins, stumbled upon the hiding place dug out by a group of fugitives under the supervision of Resistance activist Bertus Zefat*. Among those hidden were, from Emmen, Samuel, Sara, Roza, and Bernard From; Sita and Bep Meiboom; Mau Jacobs and his wife; from Ter Apel, Moos Gudema and his wife; from Emmer-Compassum, Job, Leo, and Selma Kropveld; and from Dieren, Loek Bachrach. When Hendrik discovered them, those in hiding feared the worst, but it soon transpired that they had nothing to worry about. Hendrik and his brother Andries, neither of whom had had any contact with the underground up to that point, both joined the Resistance group led by Bertus and Gien Warringa*, which looked after a group of about 20 Jews in hiding for two and a half years. At first, the Jews picked up food and other supplies from Bertus’s home at night, but when that became too dangerous the operation moved to Hendrik and Andries's home on the edge of the woods. Although all activity took place at night, it was nevertheless dangerous for the two brothers, who could have paid for their involvement with their lives. Hendrik and Andries also helped build a second hiding place when the first was discovered, and when Bertus was executed, Hendrik helped his widow look after those in hiding and used his experience as a farmer to help her cultivate her land until the end of the war. On March 25, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Hendrik Westerink and his brother, Andries Westerink, as Righteous Among the Nations.